Vehicle with emergency operation of the air conditioning systems

ABSTRACT

A vehicle includes at least two cars being interconnected by an open passageway connection and each having an air conditioning system. A detection device detects failure of a climate control function of one of the air conditioning systems. The detection device signals failure of a climate control function of an air conditioning system to a control device. Upon receiving the signal, the control device actuates an exhaust air device of the car affected by the failure of the air conditioning system so that an exhaust air volumetric flow is increased, actuates exhaust fans of the car adjacent the affected car so that the exhaust air volumetric flow thereof is reduced, and actuates the air conditioning system of the adjacent car so that the fresh air component of the conditioned inflowing air is increased. A method for emergency operation of air conditioning systems in such a vehicle is also presented.

The invention concerns a motor vehicle, especially a rail vehicle, with at least two cars that are joined by an open passageway connection and each equipped with an air conditioning system, wherein a detection device is provided that detects a failure of a climate control function of the air conditioning system, and a method for the emergency operation of such a motor vehicle.

If a function (cooling or heating) of the air conditioning system for one of the cars provided in a rail vehicle fails, i.e. the conditioning of the inflow air by cooling or heating is no longer possible, the affected car can no longer be air-conditioned according to the requirements. The car continues to be supplied with fresh air, however.

In order to be able to maintain a fresh air supply for the affected car under these circumstances, the function of the air conditioning system of said car is reduced to feeding unconditioned inflow air (mixed with fresh air) into the associated cars. Said procedure is prior art for rail vehicles.

With the absence of the climate control function for the inflow air for the affected car, there is the difficulty of providing suitable temperature-controlled internal air for the affected car, because as a rule with such a defect the ventilation of the air conditioning system is continued and unconditioned inflow air is fed into the car.

Based on this, it is the object of the invention to develop a motor vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, of the aforementioned type so that failure of a climate control function of an air conditioning system is less pronounced for the internal air temperature deviation of the affected car.

This object is achieved by providing a control device to which a failure of a climate control function of an air conditioning system is signaled by the detection device and which then actuates the outflow air device of the car affected by the air conditioning system failure so that the outflow air volumetric flow is increased, an outflow air device of the car adjacent to the affected car is actuated so that the outflow air volumetric flow thereof is reduced and the air conditioning system of the adjacent car is actuated so that a fresh air component of the conditioned inflow air is increased.

During this, the outflow air devices of the affected car and the adjacent cars are actuated so that the internal pressure reduces in the affected car.

Owing to the pressure drop occurring towards the affected car, an air flow with conditioned air from the adjacent car towards the affected car occurs. In this way, the internal air temperature deviation in the affected car is considerably reduced by feeding conditioned air from the adjacent car. The formation of the air flow is supported by increasing the fresh air component of the conditioned inflow air through the air conditioning system of the adjacent car body.

Advantageously, the control device can shut off or reduce the outflow air volumetric flow in the adjacent car. In this case, the outflow air component of the inflow air has not already been discharged by the air conditioning system of the adjacent car into the region of this car, but can pass into the car affected by the failure of the air conditioning system. In principle however, it is important that an inflowing air flow is set up towards the affected car.

Moreover, if failure of a climate control function of an air conditioning system is signaled, the control device can adjust a target internal temperature for the adjacent car depending on a measured external temperature. Said control device function particularly concerns extraordinary external temperature conditions. If for example the temperature is above average, the target internal temperature for the adjacent car can be reduced compared to standard conditions, so that inflow air of a suitable temperature can still pass into the car affected by the air conditioning system failure. In the opposite case, i.e. very cold weather conditions, the target internal temperature for the adjacent car can be raised by a suitable amount compared to a standard operating case. The air passing from the adjacent car into the car affected by the air conditioning system failure is then still above a suitable high temperature when it reaches the affected car.

The rail vehicle can comprise at least three cars, wherein if failure of a climate control function of an air conditioning system of the central car is signaled, the control device can actuate the outflow air devices and air conditioning systems of the adjacent cars equally. In other words, the air conditioning systems and outflow air devices of both cars are actuated as in previously described “adjacent” cars, while the procedure for the affected car is maintained.

A method for emergency climate control operation for such a motor vehicle is revealed in claim 7.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the FIGURE. The single FIGURE shows a schematic side view of a four-part rail vehicle.

In the exemplary rail vehicle shown in the FIGURE, the car 1 shown on the left in the FIGURE is conventionally supplied with conditioned air.

An air conditioning system 1.1 disposed approximately in the center of the roof of the car 1 is used for this. Fresh air that is sucked in is conditioned together with ambient air and passed into a vehicle interior 1.2 of the car 1 from the air conditioning system 1.1 via suitable conditioning channels. The resulting outflow air is discharged from the vehicle interior via doors 1.4 of the car 1 using suitable outflow air devices 1.3 in the roof area.

In the exemplary embodiment, the second car 3 from the right is now affected by failure of the climate control function of the air conditioning system 3.1 thereof. Only unconditioned inflow air is still passed by the air conditioning system 3.1 into an internal passenger compartment 3.2 of said car 3.

The car 3 forms a triple combination with adjacent cars 2, 4, to which it comprises car passageways that are each open.

The rail vehicle comprises a control device (not shown), to which a failure of the climate control function of the air conditioning system 3.1 is signaled by a detection device. The control device then actuates the air conditioning system 2.1, 4.1 of the adjacent cars 2, 4 to provide an increased fresh air component of the conditioned inflow air. At the same time, the volumetric flow of the outflow air device is significantly increased by increasing the revolution rate of outlet fans 3.3 of the car 3 affected by the failure of the conditioning system 3.1. As the outlet fans 2.3, 4.3 of the adjacent cars 2, 4 are also shut off, a discharge air volumetric flow 5 from the interiors 2.2, 2.4 of the adjacent cars 2, 4 to the interior 3.2 of the car 3 results.

In the event of failure of the climate control function of its air conditioning system 3.1, the car 3 is thus supplied with a conditioned discharge air volumetric flow via the adjacent cars 2, 4.

In particularly extreme weather conditions, the control device can also adjust a target internal temperature for the adjacent cars 2, 4, which in the winter means an increase in temperature and in the summer a reduction in temperature for the target internal temperature. 

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A motor vehicle, comprising: at least two cars being joined to each other by an open passageway connection; air conditioning systems each being fitted at a respective one of said at least two cars; outflow air devices each being fitted at a respective one of said at least two cars; detection devices each configured to detect a failure of a climate control function of said air conditioning system of a respective one of said at least two cars; and a control device configured to: receive a signal from at least one of said detection devices about a failure of a climate control function of an air conditioning system affecting a car; then actuate said outflow air device of said car affected by the air conditioning system failure to increase a volumetric flow of outflow air; actuate said outflow air device of a car adjacent said car affected by the air conditioning system failure to reduce the volumetric flow of outflow air; and actuate said air conditioning system of said adjacent car to increase a fresh air component of conditioned inflow air.
 13. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein each respective air conditioning system is configured to pass unconditioned inflow air into said car associated with said respective air conditioning system in an event of a failure of a climate control function of said respective air conditioning system.
 14. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said control device is configured to shut off said outflow air device in said adjacent car.
 15. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said control device adjusts a target internal temperature for said adjacent car depending on a measured external temperature if a failure of a climate control function of an air conditioning system is signaled.
 16. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein: said at least two cars are at least three cars including a central car and cars adjacent said central car; said outflow air devices are outlet fans; and said control device actuates said outlet fans and said air conditioning systems of said cars adjacent said central car equally if a failure of the climate control function of said air conditioning system of said central car is signaled.
 17. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the motor vehicle is a rail vehicle.
 18. A method for emergency operation in an event of failure of an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: providing a motor vehicle including at least two cars being connected by an open passageway connection; providing each of the cars with an air conditioning system and an outflow air device; signaling a detection of a failure of a climate control function of an air conditioning system affecting a car; actuating the outflow air device of the car affected by the air conditioning system failure to increase an outflow air volumetric flow, actuating the outflow device of a car adjacent the affected car to reduce the outflow air volumetric flow; and actuating the air conditioning system of the adjacent car to increase a fresh air component of conditioned inflow air.
 19. The method according to claim 18, which further comprises using the air conditioning systems to pass unconditioned inflow air into the cars associated with the air conditioning systems in the event of the failure of the climate control function.
 20. The method according to claim 18, which further comprises shutting off the outflow air devices in cars adjacent the affected car.
 21. The method according to claim 18, which further comprises adjusting a target internal temperature for the adjacent car depending on a measured external temperature if a failure of a climate control function of an air conditioning system is signaled.
 22. The method according to claim 18, which further comprises: providing the motor vehicle with at least three cars including a central car and cars adjacent the central car; and upon signaling a failure of a climate control function of an air conditioning system of the central car, equally actuating the outflow air devices and the air conditioning systems of the cars adjacent the central car. 